good fish for cycling

bbowler · 12/07/2007, 10:21 PM

If damsels are such pains in the butt when they get well established, what is a decent fish that will stand up to cycling? How but chromis, they are cheap and not bad looking, will they be as agressive? Thanks,

zippopunk1 · 12/07/2007, 10:22 PM

get a marine betta there expensive but hard to kill

bertoni · 12/07/2007, 10:23 PM

I wouldn't put any fish in the tank to cycle it. That's not necessary, and any fish can bring diseases with it. Just add the live rock and wait. For systems with only base rock, a tiny bit of fish food should do the job.

demonsp · 12/07/2007, 10:25 PM

Please dont use fish for cycling. Its not needed. Just get the LR and SB some powerheads and let it cycle. Whene readings drop and level you ready to come back and thread" cycle over now what".
Restricting amount of main lights during cycle helps reduce algea blooms.

bbowler · 12/07/2007, 10:25 PM

i thought you had to have something in there for the cycle to start, i would like to see something in there besides rock if possible.

demonsp · 12/07/2007, 10:28 PM

Is it LR. Any LS. If all you have is base rock and base sand then a few tablespoons of LS or some rubble rock will get it going.

spike78 · 12/07/2007, 10:28 PM

You have 6 years experience in reef keeping?

You don't need anything in the tank to start a cycle besides a source of ammonia. Good quality live rock or a dead shrimp will give you all the ammonia you need to start a cycle. For my 200 Gal tank I used 2 mashed fresh shrimp from the store sans shells.

bbowler · 12/07/2007, 10:33 PM

hey I have had some years in the reef area but it has been a long time and I have not kept up on the new stuff. I alsways cycled with fish before, thats all i was saying. I will be adding ls to the live rock in this 120 gal.

cmejaf30 · 12/07/2007, 10:33 PM

a few pellets/flakes of fish food every day or so will provide all the ammonia you need for the cycle (as long as you have live sand and/or live rock). Don't use a fish, no point in stressing a damsel out like that and afterwards, you probably won't want him in there anyways...

bbowler · 12/07/2007, 10:36 PM

thanks for the info, i think it used to take 2-3 weeks for a cycle time, hell in a fish and lr tank, no corals, I used a zebra moray eel to cycle and he came through like a champ and had no signs of any stress at all. You know how it is when you want stuff in there to enjoy.

cmejaf30 · 12/07/2007, 10:40 PM

yea been there...that's the only thing that needs training in this hobby is patience. I know we're all guilty of wanting to rush. I've fell behind and have had my 55 up with 60lbs of live rock and my fish are in my QT right now for another two weeks (already been 4). That big tank is looking mighty empty but it will be worth the wait. waiting is the right move...good luck.

12/07/2007, 10:21 PM	#1
bbowler Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: orange county Posts: 79	good fish for cycling If damsels are such pains in the butt when they get well established, what is a decent fish that will stand up to cycling? How but chromis, they are cheap and not bad looking, will they be as agressive? Thanks,

12/07/2007, 10:23 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't put any fish in the tank to cycle it. That's not necessary, and any fish can bring diseases with it. Just add the live rock and wait. For systems with only base rock, a tiny bit of fish food should do the job. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/07/2007, 10:33 PM	#9
cmejaf30 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 186	a few pellets/flakes of fish food every day or so will provide all the ammonia you need for the cycle (as long as you have live sand and/or live rock). Don't use a fish, no point in stressing a damsel out like that and afterwards, you probably won't want him in there anyways... __________________ ~Adam Loving a hobby where there are few absolute right answers, many ways of doing things, a lot of good advice and, after all's said and done, a few ppm can cost you a whole lotta dough!! Current Tank Info: 55 gallon w/ 20 gallon refug...MAG 9.5 return, 3 Rio 120 powerheads in DT, 300W heater. 2x96w T5 lights (12K and actinic), 70lbs sand, 65lbs live rock...29 FO right now that will remain up and running and act as my quarantine tank.

12/07/2007, 10:40 PM	#11
cmejaf30 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 186	yea been there...that's the only thing that needs training in this hobby is patience. I know we're all guilty of wanting to rush. I've fell behind and have had my 55 up with 60lbs of live rock and my fish are in my QT right now for another two weeks (already been 4). That big tank is looking mighty empty but it will be worth the wait. waiting is the right move...good luck. __________________ ~Adam Loving a hobby where there are few absolute right answers, many ways of doing things, a lot of good advice and, after all's said and done, a few ppm can cost you a whole lotta dough!! Current Tank Info: 55 gallon w/ 20 gallon refug...MAG 9.5 return, 3 Rio 120 powerheads in DT, 300W heater. 2x96w T5 lights (12K and actinic), 70lbs sand, 65lbs live rock...29 FO right now that will remain up and running and act as my quarantine tank.

12/07/2007, 10:22 PM	#2
zippopunk1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: cali Posts: 746	get a marine betta there expensive but hard to kill

12/07/2007, 10:25 PM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Please dont use fish for cycling. Its not needed. Just get the LR and SB some powerheads and let it cycle. Whene readings drop and level you ready to come back and thread" cycle over now what". Restricting amount of main lights during cycle helps reduce algea blooms.

12/07/2007, 10:28 PM	#6
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Is it LR. Any LS. If all you have is base rock and base sand then a few tablespoons of LS or some rubble rock will get it going.

12/07/2007, 10:28 PM	#7
spike78 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 420	You have 6 years experience in reef keeping? You don't need anything in the tank to start a cycle besides a source of ammonia. Good quality live rock or a dead shrimp will give you all the ammonia you need to start a cycle. For my 200 Gal tank I used 2 mashed fresh shrimp from the store sans shells.

12/07/2007, 10:36 PM	#10
bbowler Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: orange county Posts: 79	thanks for the info, i think it used to take 2-3 weeks for a cycle time, hell in a fish and lr tank, no corals, I used a zebra moray eel to cycle and he came through like a champ and had no signs of any stress at all. You know how it is when you want stuff in there to enjoy.